The RNLI volunteers Saturday morning lie in was cut short when they were requested by Belfast Coastguard to go to the aid of a sailing vessel that had suffered engine failure and a fouled rudder.

After a brief search, involving Belfast and Whitehaven Coastguard and the shore crew of St Bees RNLI, the stricken vessel was located about six miles from Whitehaven. Just before 9:00am St Bees lifeboat came alongside the yacht and a crew member was sent on board the vessel to establish a tow line. The catamaran was then successfully towed into Whitehaven Harbour by St Bees lifeboat ‘Joy Morris MBE’ where they were met by members of Whitehaven Coastguard.

Dick Beddows St Bees RNLI Operations Manager said ‘Its been a quiet few months for our volunteers but when their pagers went off they all responded quickly to help the unfortunate yachtsman’

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.